Jammu, Sept 25: J&K's Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) has failed to execute the urban renewal projects worth crores of rupees even as sufficient funds were sanctioned by the Centre. With an aim to reduce congestion in the cities of Poonch, Sunderbani and Samba, the urban renewal projects were sanctioned in 2006-07 under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) by the Centre at a cost of Rs 9 cr. An amount of Rs 4.50 cr was released between 2007 and 2012. Sources said the development works of the towns of Poonch and Sunderbani were taken up in 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs 8.50 crore which included construction of shopping complex at Poonch and widening of roads at Poonch and Sunderbani."Rs 4.50 cr was released for the purpose. However, works could not be taken up as shopkeepers were not ready to relocate," sources said. They said it was evident that projects were not formulated after due planning taking into account ground survey and willingness of local stakeholders. This resulted in non-utilization of Rs 4.27 cr, as Rs 21.70 lakh was expended on construction of passenger sheds for over seven years, defeating the very purpose of the scheme and denial of intended benefits to the public. "In another case, the construction of toilet complex in Samba was allotted at a cost of Rs 4.25 lakh. The project was sanctioned in 2006-07 and was to be completed by March 2014. However, the work had not been completed as of April 2016 despite incurring an amount of Rs 3.80 lakh," said sources.On the other hand, the H&UDD attributed the failure to execute the work within allotted time period to escalation of cost prices.